Chapter 20 #2
One of the enforcers blows a whistle, calling in more reinforcements. Halfway through the blast, the white and grey wolf that’s Oriana leaps onto him, snarling. She’s not a huge wolf, but she’s big enough and heavy enough to knock the man back a step. He snarls back, grabbing at her.
Then Noah is there, thrusting his arm towards the man’s throat. His fingernails must have turned to sharp wolf claws because blood spurts and the man falls back. Oriana leaps clear, blood staining her fur.
“Run,” Noah orders, pointing, and she turns and flees towards the border. With luck, the others will follow her.
The other two enforcers turn on Noah. He faces off with one, but when another tries to leap up behind, I lose it.
My wolf breaks from my skin, ripping at my clothes. I don’t think, I just act, and before I know it, I’ve got an enforcer on the ground, and I’m tearing at his back. I taste blood, and then Oriana is there, slitting his throat from behind with a four-claw slash.
I rise to all fours just as Noah takes out another enforcer. Liora runs to help him, and Noah points to the border of the land.
“Go,” Noah orders, using an Alpha command. “Now.”
In the grip of the Change, Liora falls to her knees. She casts off her shift just before she changes into a wolf–a white and grey one that matches her daughter. In wolf form, she streaks away.
I hear whistles in the woods. The enforcers calling in reinforcements. In another minute, this will be all over.
I can only hope that Oriana and the others make it out.
Suddenly, I’m in another world. The full moon is gone, and there’s only darkness, and a hundred wolves surrounding us. They have glowing red eyes. What did Aiden do to them to make them have red eyes? They’re also bigger, stronger, faster than any wolves I’ve ever seen.
And they have no aura. They’re soulless. When I feel into their energy, it’s a violent, empty, hungry void. A nothingness.
I can hear someone shouting my name. Calling me back.
Noah.
He’s here with me. I sense him. “No,” I mumble and try to wrench away. I need him to leave me. I need him to go, to save himself.
The vision changes. I’m at the Cradle, watching Aiden move towards the altar with a knife in his hand. Noah is bound there, tied down with silver rope that cuts into his skin, bloodies it.
My arms are bound, and I can’t move. The Warden is holding me back. I’m screaming as Aiden stands over Noah, blocking my view, and his arm strikes down.
I know the moment Noah dies. I feel it. It’s like I’m being ripped in two. Pain wracks my body, and I’m shaking so hard, I don’t know how I’m still conscious.
I don’t want to watch, but I can’t look away as Aiden steps back, lifting a bloody chunk of meat.
Noah’s heart. Aiden tore it from his body, and now he’s crowing, his blond hair black with blood, as he throws his head back and swallows the organ whole.
The Warden and all the red-eyed wolves start howling, but the sound cuts out.
I’m staring into Noah’s eyes, but he’s gone, gone, and he’ll never return. He’ll never hold me again, or love me, or protect me.
And it’s my fault. I did this. I turned away from my fate, and that’s the reason my mate is dead.
At the foot of the altar lies another body. Liora, in human form, her sightless eyes staring into the black sky. And I have to watch as Oriana is led, stumbling as if drugged, to the altar to be “claimed” in the Alpha Rites.
NO, I shout in my mind.
It can't happen. I won't let it happen.
But the vision continues, more images flowing into my mind’s eye in a horrible fast-forward cascade. Madi sobbing over a tiny grave. Aiden ordering red-eyed wolves to advance and kill a crowd of humans. Thick, oily smoke boiling from the rubble of New York City.
It’s coming, the Grandmothers inform me sadly. It’s not even a shock to hear their voices–it feels inevitable. Only you can stop this. But you must take your place.
I see myself as Seeress, with the tiara on my head. Calling on my powers to cleanse the land.
Take your place, the Grandmothers urge. It’s the only way.
And then I'm back in reality. “Aster! Aster?”
I’m in the forest with Noah. He’s holding me–he must have carried me here. There’s no one around us, but I hear whistles in the distance. The enforcers are coming, and Aiden and the Warden will probably be with them.
I want to cling to him, but the taint of my vision coats me. I don’t know why I had a vision; they’re supposed to be gone. I’m supposed to be free!
Take your place.
I don’t want to! But…I can’t be the reason Noah is killed.
I can’t stand for him to touch me, knowing that I might cause his death.
And I know if he stays with me now, he will be caught, and so will his mother and sister.
He needs to go and lead them out, it’s their only chance. I know it like I know my own name
I can't have him here. It hurts, but losing him will hurt worse.
“You need to leave.” I face him, so he can see my lips clearly as I sign, GO.
“Aster–” his arms tighten around me, and I thrash, wrenching myself free. I must look crazy, and maybe I am, but I have to do this. I have to do this even though my eyes sting with tears, and my heart is cracking, bleeding poison.
“You need to leave now. Go with your sister and mother.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
I say the first thing that comes to mind, what will get him to go away.
“I'm not your mate. I can't be your mate. I want nothing to do with you. I belong here. You must set me free.” It’s all lies, poison, but I make myself believe it, so it smells a little true.
It helps when the poison floods my body, numbing me from fingers to toes.
I let the coldness take me and say, “I helped you get your mother and sister out. My debt to Liora is paid. But now I must go back to my calling. The Grandmothers spoke. I belong here.” Go with them, I plead silently. Go and be happy and live.
“Aster–” He reaches for me.
I slash my hands down. “No! I don't want you as my mate. If you touch me, I will scream.”
His hand falls, his expression broken.
I back away, and then I have to turn.
I can’t look at him anymore, or he’ll see the tears running down my face.